I slink out of bed, heading to the kitchen to get breakfast before work. Waffles again. I guess.

I save Nora a few waffles, they're frozen waffles, the kind you'd buy at the grocery store. She loves them.

I heat up the waffles, managing to eat one before realizing my bedroom clock was slightly off. And I'm running behind. I put the others in the microwave, slipping on my shirt and coat. And shoes, don't forget those.

I run to the elevator, and by the time I get outside, Ivan is happily humming, sitting in his car.

I get in, smiling. "Hej."

He smiles. "Hi, Princess! Is Nora still asleep?"

I nod. "She has 'n exam today, 's why I called ya."

He taps the steering wheel, slowly pulling away from the apartment complex. "That is fine! I don't mind driving you to work at all!"

I buckle up, smiling slightly. "Thanks. Also, I think I might go back t' front desk. I can handle 't."

He smiles in surprise. "Good! I'll leave you to it, then!"

I go to the desk by the door, slipping off my coat and putting on my vest. Today, a little social interaction might do me good.

A customer comes in, a blonde man with glasses. The way he walks automatically tells me it's his first time here.

"H'llo sir! Can I help ya look fer something?" I put on the biggest smile I can manage and stand, but he holds out his hand.

"No thank you, I'm perfectly fine. I'm sure I can find it." And he walks off.

And, of course, not even two minutes later, he's back in front of my desk, a timid expression on his face.

"Change yer mind?" I can't help but smirk. New people can't possibly navigate the endless maze that is IKEA.

He scoffs. "No.. Just.. Can't exactly .. Find the right make." He shrugs, hiding an obvious blush.

I stand. "Well, I'd be glad t' help ya." He tugs on his collar, nodding.

"I'm Birgit, pleased to meet you sir. What 're ya looking for today?" I smile.

He clears his throat. "Just a small sofa- the one in the Yellow section of the catalogue-" He butchers the Swedish name of the sofa as he flips through his catalogue to show me.

I hold back a groan and nod. "Right this way." I lead him to the sofa- it's a yellow one, low, close to the ground, cute.

He smiles slightly, thanking me as I give him the number for the warehouse. "Please let me know if ya have any trouble!" I smile, leading him off.

And return to the front desk.

I help about 6 more customers before my shift is finally over. Ivan comes over to my desk, dinging on the bell with a big smile on his face. "Leaving time, Princess!"

I stand up, stretching. "Long day." I sigh, smiling. He nods. "Da, but it's finally over!" He slips his coat on, holding the door open for me as soon as I'm ready.

The ride home is slow, I'm antsy. Tino's coming, Tino's coming!

As soon as Ivan pulls into the drive, I get out, not waiting for him to park. I yell a "thank you", running upstairs.

And when I get inside, I am in for a pleasant surprise. The apartment is sparkly clean! Cleaner than it's been in months, honestly.

Nora comes out from the kitchen, grinning. "I had time after my test and I thought I'd clean a little for you!"

I give her a big hug. "Were ya that bored?" She hugs back, nodding. "Very."

I laugh. "Well, Tino should be here at 3." Nora glances at the clock. "It's 2:30." I run in my room- quickly getting changed. Wow, Nora even cleaned the bedroom.. I laugh to myself, coming back in the living room.

"What are ya hungry for, Nor?" She stretches out on the couch. "Chicken. Nuggets."

I groan. "Chicken nuggets? I don't even think we have those. We have chicken patties though.. That's kind of the same thing.." I shrug.

She grins. "That'll work." I nod, going into the kitchen to start on the food. "Chicken patties and what..?" I call into the living room.

"Carrots!" She smacks the couch. "And green beans!"

"Alright-"

Suddenly, there's a knock on the door. Tino?

"Come in!" I call. The door slowly opens, and Tino's cute face pops in. "Hi!"

Nora sits up on the couch. "Tino, ya weenie!"

He reels back. "Noooora.. Right, hiiii!" He pauses, trying to come up with an insult. "You dingleberry!"

Nora snorts. "You fucking suck." He bites his lip, stepping inside. "Right, thank you."

I run over to Tino, grabbing his hands and holding them in mine. "Nora wanted chicken so I made chicken patties. Hope that's okay." I smile a little.

He laughs, kissing my cheek. "That's fine."

I tug him further inside. "Come sit down. Nora doesn't have to take up the whole couch, shove her over a little." I laugh.

Tino sits on the very edge of the couch, because Nora's doing the best she can to actually take up the whole couch.

He nudges her with his shoulder. "Move over, you Satan bulldozer..!" "You really fucking suck!"

And now they're kicking each other, great. "You two, quit it! Or I'll eat all the chicken myself!"

Nora freezes, Tino's foot on her chest, about to fall off the couch. "Sorry babe." I blush. "NORA." She shoves Tino off, and they sit normally, with enough room for me in the middle as I carry over their plates.

"I already ate earlier." I hum, grabbing a cup of tea. Nora gorges herself on her chicken patty, while Tino tries to eat as elegantly as possible. And that means cutting the sandwich into tiny pieces with his fork and spoon and eating it.

I shoot him a confused look, and he shrugs. He's got his pinky up, trying to look like some British noble or something. I groan, closing my eyes as I drink.

And now, Nora's already done. I swear it's only been two minutes since I gave her the plate, she must have been starving. She's always been too lazy to cook her own food, I always do it for her.

"Got any more?" She grins. "Nora- are you even real?" I stifle a laugh. She shrugs. "If I wasn't, I don't think I'd be this hungry. More?"

I point to the counter, rolling my eyes. She skips into the kitchen, making two more sandwiches. And taking the rest of the veggies.

Tino finishes his sandwich very elegantly, then moves on to his carrots and beans.

Nora throws something at me, and the particular something hits me in the face, making me groan in pain. "Noraaaaa.."

"Birgit needs her food~!" She teases, pointing to my lap. Licorice.

I hold up the pinwheel, taking a bite before tilting my head. "Yer giving me licorice?"

She nods. "You didn't eat today, did you?"

I take another bite, sighing. "Nora, can we not do this right now?"

She tosses me another pinwheel, shaking her head. "Eat it."

I sigh, eating the first and moving on to the second. I glance over at Tino, and he's looking at me with a slight pout. He stabs at a carrot, then holds his fork out to me.

I shake my head, laughing. "Tino, I don't want that. Don't."

His pout gets bigger and he stuffs it in his mouth. Nora looks over at me, her expression makes it look like she's ready to scold me, but she's holding back.

I eat the second piece of licorice, sighing.

If we can even consider this a first date, it has now gone horribly.

Thanks to Nora.

Is she doing this on purpose? To spite me? To make me look pitiful in front of Tino? Because I think it's working.

He's looking at me with those big eyes, still pouting.

I don't care, I don't want it. What would Nora know?

I drink my tea, then bite at my cheek. I want to cry. But I wouldn't do that now- that's stupid.

I inch closer to Tino, and he sets his plate down and grabs my hand. There it is- his cute smile. He kisses my cheek, and I blush. And glance over to the kitchen. Nora's not looking, she's doing the dishes.

Tino glances at the clock on the wall. "I should go, huh?" He smiles, grabbing my chin to tilt my head up. "I'll come when you call, alright love?" Something inside of me stirs, I like that, a pet name of sorts.

"Mm." I nod a little, and he pulls me closer for a quick kiss.

He stands, letting my hand go. "Really- call me." He smiles. "I'll take you out. It'll be nice. Maybe I'll show you around my new place." He winks.

I blush again. "Y-Yeah.."

He waves and grins before slipping outside.

Nora groans as soon as the door shuts. "Finallllllly-"

I stand up, putting my cup down. "What was all th't about?" I demand.

She reels back. "What? Me trying to make sure you're okay?" I scoff.

"Any other time. Any time. Ya could've waited 'till he left. Why then? Why?"

She chews her lip. "I was worried. That's all. I know you only ate breakfast. You didn't even eat that much. I'm sorry- You had to have something."

"You could've waited."

"I'm sorry!"

".. 'm going to bed." I walk back into my room, flopping on the bed.

I hear dishes clatter in the kitchen.

Maybe I was a little too hard on her, but it was her fault.

Nora walks in my room, drying her hands on her jeans. "Move over a little, will you?"

I scootch to the edge of the bed so she can lay down, and tug the blankets over my head.

"Are you really that mad?" She says quietly, snuggling up to me.

"Very mad, for yer information."

She kisses my temple. "I'm sorry. I really am. It'll never happen again."

I push her face away. "Alright. Sure. I work 'n the morning, so I need t' sleep. Quiet."

She rolls over. "Right, sorry."

I huff and nuzzle my pillow - and eventually fall asleep.